NL Notes: Griffey goes on DL with knee injury

Ken Griffey Jr. went on the 15-day disabled list Monday night after a test found inflammation in a tendon behind his right knee.

The Cincinnati Reds center fielder missed his fifth straight game with the injury, getting a magnetic resonance imaging test instead. He was put on the DL after a 9-1 victory over the Florida Marlins.

"You don't want it to get worse," Dr. Timothy Kremchek said. "The season's young. I think he's got peace of mind, and we've got peace of mind."

Griffey ran on a treadmill for 12 minutes earlier Monday and reported some improvement, but still felt tightness behind the knee. He wasn't available in the clubhouse after he was placed on the disabled list.

"It's as much a precautionary thing," general manager Wayne Krivsky said. "It's not anything serious. According to the doctor, he could be playing in a day or two, but we'd rather be safe at this time of year."

The Reds are expected to activate catcher Jason LaRue before tonight's game.

Atlanta: Wilson Betemit started at SS again in place of injured Edgar Renteria (strained left rib cage). "He's [Renteria] not as sore today as he was yesterday," manager Bobby Cox said. "That would be as good as it would get — end of the week."

Chicago: RHP Kerry Wood, who is on the DL after right shoulder surgery, threw a 30-pitch bullpen session.

Colorado: 2B Luis Gonzalez was given his second straight day off to give him some time to work on his swing and to get Jason Smith in the lineup. Smith was 8 for 13 with three home runs and seven runs batted in the last series against San Diego.

Florida: RH reliever Carlos Martinez went on the 15-day DL with a strained right elbow. He complained of pain after pitching two innings Sunday. Martinez is scheduled for an MRI today. ... OF Jeremy Hermida also went on the 15-day DL with a sore right hip.

Houston: Astros pitcher Brandon Backe will seek a second opinion on his injured right elbow on Wednesday. Backe was placed on the 15-day DL Friday with a sprained ligament in his right elbow and is expected to miss at least six weeks. ... The Astros have sued an insurance company claiming breach of contract because the company has denied the team's claim to recoup $15.6 million of injured 1B Jeff Bagwell's contract.

Los Angeles: INF Jeff Kent had a second CT scan, a day after he was beaned by San Francisco pitcher Brad Hennessey and suffered a concussion. He remains day to day. ... INF Nomar Garciaparra, sidelined with a strained muscle on his right side, took live batting practice.

New York: The Mets optioned OF Victor Diaz to Class AAA Norfolk and recalled LHP Pedro Feliciano.

St. Louis: LF John Rodriguez was scratched from the starting lineup about a half hour before a game in Pittsburgh due to what team officials said was an allergic reaction to something he ate.

San Francisco: Closer Armando Benitez, who has been sidelined with bursitis in his left knee, will pitch in a minor-league spring-training game this morning in Mesa, Ariz. If all goes well, he could come off the DL Wednesday, manager Felipe Alou said.

Washington: RHP Ryan Drese will not need surgery and is expected to miss four to six weeks with a right elbow injury. Drese has a flexor tendon strain in the elbow, according to an MRI exam during a visit to Dr. Lewis Yocum in Los Angeles.

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